Can you imagine following your guy to a whole new country...much to his chagrin? A country whose native tongue you do not speak. A country in which you have no other friends, except said "guy". And then he leaves. And he doesn't think he'll be back. Ever. So you cry your crocodile tears and wake up alone in a strange country. All alone. In his apartment...that at least he had the decency to let you "keep". The only thing is- you're determined to stay. I mean...come on...he'll be back. Right!? Not even close. But life goes on and you meet a friend or two. You smoke your cigarettes and drink your Japanese beer...you live some semblance of a normal life...until something draws you in. It's a scent...but it's not just a scent. It's an aura. It's an energy. It glows! Warmth and people and something cooking...you're mesmerized.

Bowls of steaming Ramen...made from the hands and the soul of a Ramen chef. The steam alone can fill your heart with joy and make you laugh uncontrollably at the first whiff. One spoonful can make the tears free-flow straight from your heart and through your eyes...adding silent, salty drips into your bowl. One bowl can transport you twenty years back in time...leaving your chopsticks suspended, like memories, in mid-air.

The Ramen Girl is one of our two featured flicks this month over atFood 'n Flix(the other beingWaitress) this month. I love The Ramen girl...it's a fun, foodie chick-flick that I won't ruin by giving any more away. I was totally inspired to make a bowl of noodle soup...with broth, noodles, veggies, and meat that would transport me to another level. Check it out...

Place strips of pork in a bowl and add lime juice, soy sauce, paprika and fish sauce and let stand no more than 15 minutes.

Cook the noodles according to package directions, ~2 minutes if using fresh Udon. Drain. In the meantime, heat chicken stock until boiling.

Heat a wok and add oil and garlic, stir around for a minute or so to infuse the oil with the garlic. Add scallions and ginger and cook for a minute or so. Tip in the bowl of pork with its marinade, stirring as you go. Cook meat for another two minutes, then add hot broth and let the whole thing come to a boil.

Drop in bean sprouts and spinach and cook for another minute or two. Divide noodles amongst serving bowls. Use tongs to lift out the meat and veggies and divide them amongst the bowls, on top of the noodles. Ladle the hot broth over the top and garnish with the jalapeños.

Michiana-based food writer with a fondness for garlic, freshly baked bread, stinky cheese, dark beer, and Mexican food—who believes that immersing herself in different cultures one bite at a time is the best path to enlightenment.

35 comments

Are you kiddin me, I was so into reading the story. Oh yes, I love noodles girl. And anytime too. Have you seen all the noodle recipes on my blog...? Thanks for stopping by, I enjoyed your post tremendously.

Following a guy to another country? No! Eating this soup? YES! I love a good noodle bowl like this and love it even more with the pork. Yeah Nigella! (I went to buy her new book last week and it was sold out)

Soup, how do I love thee? Very much! Can't wait to make this, Heather, and I just added the movie to our insanely long netflix queue, but because I've no patience for waiting, I've bumped it to the top!

Hi there! Just wanted to let you know there's a Marx Foods stocking with your name on it! Check your email, I need your mailing address. Your blog looks delicious! This only a drive-by, but as The Terminator would say, I'll be back!

Yummie, I love udon noddles...love the texture of this noddles...as a matter of fact I always have it in my freezer :-) Love the way you prepared with lots of veggies and spice it up with jalapeno...so good!

absolutely loved ur post-- though a pure vegetarian i loved the recipe for the soup, planning to bring my own version to it and yes i loved the movie _ The Ramen Girl !! and through ur words i feel i have watched the movie one more time ! Rock on Gal !!

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